ABOUT TOWN

12:00 AM CST on Friday, November 18, 2005
by Deborah Fleck, Dallas Morning News


The day after her four babies first slept through the night on Monday, Liz Dixon had to leave them.

The mother of quadruplets born 14 weeks early on April 14 returned to the hospital for her long-awaited colon closure surgery. The surgery turned into an unexpected appendectomy and oophorectomy as her doctor discovered other problems and had to remove her appendix and an ovary.

Meredith Mathews, who is chronicling her sister's story on a Web site, said the surgery went well, and Ms. Dixon now "has at least six weeks of recovery ahead of her."

The quads have overcome their own medical problems and are gaining weight. Madison, Hudson and Samantha weigh about 12 pounds, with Candice holding her own at about 10 pounds.

The family of seven, which includes dad Donny and 1-year-old son Logan, lives in Irving with Ms. Dixon's parents, Raymond and Karol Welsh.

The babies have family and many friends looking out for them.

"Who could even imagine what life would be like this past year? My wife [Katherine] and I feel very fortunate as great-grandparents to be able to help with the quads and Logan," said Kennith R. Owens of Irving.

Visit www.dixonquads.com.